Culture Club book group: Silk, by Alessandro Baricco
Dec 8 2006 By The Journal
Get into good habits; get into reading with The Journal Culture Club Book Group. January's choice is best-selling European classic Silk, by Alessandro Baricco. At only 104 pages long, it's an ideal way to get through a good book at Christmas - then join Amelia Joicey and others in the New Year to talk about it.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
France, 1861. When an epidemic threatens to wipe out the silk trade in France, happily married Herve Joncour (a young silkworm breeder) has to leave his wife and travel overland to distant Japan, out of bounds to foreigners, to smuggle out healthy silkworms.
In the course of his secret negotiations with the local baron, Joncour's attention is arrested by the man's concubine, a girl who does not have oriental eyes. Although they are unable to exchange so much as a word, love blossoms between them, a love that is conveyed in a number of recondite messages. How their secret affair develops is told in this remarkable love story.
In the style of an old-fashioned fable, Alessandro Baricco has crafted a beautiful, sensual and mesmerizing novella. Some of the chapters are so short they read more like poems, which greatly adds to the charm and mystique of the story. The writing is hypnotic, repetitive and deeply affecting.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
ALESSANDRO BARICCO was born in Turin in 1958. He has written four novels (Lands of Glass, Ocean Sea, Silk and City) all of which have been translated into English. He is also the author of two plays, and two collections of essays.
DISCUSSION STARTERS:
* Does the sparse writing stimulate a greater imaginative response?
* What do you think about books in translation?
* Does this book read more like poetry or prose?
* The film rights have been sold, production is under way & Kiera Knightly is signed up for the role of Helene - how do you envisage Silk on the big screen?
* Did the ending leave you "stunned"?
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at The Byker Vista Café Bar in The Biscuit Factory 16 Stoddart Street, Shieldfield, Newcastle, NE2 1AN. The session will last from 6pm to 7.30pm and costs £3.50 per person, payable on the night (includes a drink and snack). If you would like to attend, please contact Rachel Suddart on (0191) 201-6369 or email rachel.suddart@ncjmedia.co.uk with your name, membership number and the number of places you'd like to reserve (max of 2 per card). Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
BOOK ACQUISITION
Readers are expected to source their own copy of the book. Newcastle and Gateshead libraries both have copies. The book is discounted on several online stores & at least one major supermarket retailer. (Cover illustrations vary).
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND BUT DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT
Most public libraries in Tyne Wear run a variety of reading groups. Call in to find what's available near you. Alternatively, there are several online reading groups run by publishers and individuals; a search engine will list the majority. Try www.bookgroup.info
